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Posted 3/31/2008 5:44 PM (GMT -7)
Hello all. I'm new to this whole posting thing, but I thought maybe someone out there has some insight. 

I had ALIF (anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion) done on L5-S1 this past June.  After the recovery period, I began feeling so good.  My doctor was amazed at how fast I was healing.  Fusion is complete and I thought I was on my way.  Unfortunately in December, the back pain started back up.  Shortly after, it subsided and approximately a month ago it came back after I put my rather chunky one year old down on the floor one day.  I spent about a week "resting" it as much as you can with a 3 year old and 1 year old.   However, for the past month it has just gotten a little worse every day.  Today it is killing me and I finally caved in and am going to the doctor on Thursday. 

Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences.  I was just so excited that the pain was almost completely gone, and now it seems as if it's never left.  Just wondering if maybe physical therapy or a chiropractor might help.  I'm taking 2 norco a day and feel horrible that 10 months post surgery I'm still taking them.  Today I've taken 2 norco and 2 ibuprofren and have gotten absolutely no relief. 

Anyone who has some insight, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Posted 3/31/2008 8:39 PM (GMT -7)
Hi soreback,

And welcome to the forum! I'm so sorry your pain is back. I too have problems in the same area but decided against surgery. You may have been in worse shape and didn't have a choice. From what my osteo doc told me... often this type of surgery doesn't keep pain away for very long. But now that you're this far into it I definitely think going to the doc is job #1. The amount of pain meds you're taking isn't very high so if your doc ups that don't be surprised. But it is hard to take it when you are responsible for 2 babies. I hope you have a significant other who helps you.

Hugs,
Chutzie
Posted 3/31/2008 9:04 PM (GMT -7)

soreback,

i had almost exactly the same experience.  my pain was in the same area, l4-5, s1.  i had rewached the point where i could only walk shor distances, very painfully, with a walker and was seriously considering a wheel chair.  i talked to my dr (who is as much a friend as a dr) who referred me to a do who specializes in spines.  bottem line, i had a laminectomy in 2002 and was vitrtually pain free for about a year.  then the pain came back and kewpt getting worse.  i went back to the surgio0n who suggested another operration to tske the screws out of the titanium rod holding my spine together.  after this operation i could walk again without a cane for short distances and with a cane if i have to do walmart.  i am also goinf to a pain management dr and am taking 3 percodet/day, 2 flexeril/day, and morphine for breakthrough pain (up to 3/day).

i'm not doing swimmingly, but it beats the devel out of the alternative.  by the way, once you've had back surgery, no chiropracter will touch your back.

hope this helps.

warren

Posted 3/31/2008 9:38 PM (GMT -7)
Dear Sore -
I had a PLIF last Sept. Unfortunately, I didn't get any relief from my nerve pain symptoms, and it only added muslce pain to my lower back around the surgery site. I still see a physical therapist once/week (he's an angel, and is seeing me at no cost because my insurance ran out) and he helps keep the muslces around the site somewhat relaxed. I do notice they spasm easily, however. I was sick this past week and for the first time since my surgery had to vomit (sorry for the graphics!) and learned how much that strained my muscles, which are now quite sore. I wonder if part or all of what you're experiencing is muscle, in which case physical therapy might help. Your doctor should be able to tell you. Unfortunately, I think many of us still end up on some amount of pain meds, although none of us wants to be. See what your doc has to say when he/she evaluates what may be causing the pain. Also unfortunately, as we get older our spines continue to degenerate, so the likelihood for all of us is that our spines will worsen over time even with surgery.

I hope it's just some strained muscles. Let us know.
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